Marine safety light



Dec. 11, 1951 p, AMBROSE 2,578,030

MARINE SAFETY LIGHT Filed Aug. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL J. AMBROSE ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1951 P. J. AMBROSE 2,578,030

MARINE SAFETY LIGHT Filed Aug. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR.

PAUL J. AMBROSE ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1951 Filed Aug. 2, 1948 P. J. AMBROSE 2,578,030

MARINE SAFETY LIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M; 50 62 2. 63 Z-66 2 1 .A

INVENTOR. PA UL J. AMBROSE ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARINE. SAFETY LIGHT Paul J Ambrose, Silver Spring, Md.

Application August 2, 1948', SerialNo. 42,097

8 Claims.

A main object of the invention is to provide a v novel and improved buoyant marine safety light which is very simple in. construction, highly resistant to corrosion by sea. water, and lealrproof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved marine safety light which is very rugged in construction, which is capable of being stowed aboard ship in an inverted position, and which becomes illuminated automatically when thrown into the water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric. marine safety light which is waterproof, vapor-proof, and which is completely self-contained, said light assuming an upright position when thrown into. the water and becoming energized automatically when such a position is assumed, the light providing a beam having a highly concentrated horizontal distribution in all directions around the. horizon, whereby it may be detected at great distances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a marine safety light unit which will meet the extremely rigorous weathering and operational requirements now' set forth by the United States Coast Guard and other authorized governmental agencies in their specifications for this type of equipment, no previously devised light unit having been successful in meeting these requirements.

A still further object. of the invention is to provide an improved marine safety light unit which is highly resistant to salt spray and outdoor weather conditions and which is able. to withstand severe shocks without damage thereto, said light being very easy to assemble and being very easy to take apart for inspection or renewal of parts, yet at the same time: being; completely waterproof and vapor-proof when assembled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved marine safety light and. mounting means for supporting the. light in a normally extinguished inverted position, the mounting means aiding in the dismantling of the light when internal partsthereof' are to be inspected or replaced, and also aidingin the-reassembling thereof when the servicing of the light-has been.

colinoletedzv A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide an improved marine safety light 01. th

self-contained battery-operated. type which pro vides a high light output all around the horizon and which is internally cushioned so that internal parts thereof are protected against damage from shock and vibration, whereby thelight will be instantly available for use in an emergency even aiter being stowed aboard ship for a. very long period of time prior to use- A still further object of the invention, isto provide an improved electric marine safety light wherein the light. bulb, wiring, battery, and other components are. veryeasyto examine and replace, wherein risks of open circuits or short circuits in the wiring are. minimized, and wherein the resistance inthe circuit is. held to a, minimum, so that when the light is thrown into the water a maximum amount of lamp energization will be obtained.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved marine. safety light which also acts: as a reflective. signal device, so that a light beamfrom, an approaching vessel will be reflected from the safety light, providing a marker signal even when the battery of the safety light has become exhausted.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription andclaims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l. isa side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a marinesafety light constructed in accordance with. the present invention, shown mounted in its normal inverted position on its mounting; bracket as it would be stowed aboard ship...

Figure 2 is a top Plan view of the structure, of Figure: 1,.

Figure3 is a bottom plan: view of the structure shown inll'igure; 1.,

Figure 4. is; a side elevational view, partly in crQss-section,.of the safety light of Figure 1 in upright. floating position in the water.

Eigureo is an enlargedvertical; cross-sectional vrletailfiview taken through the lensv and adjacent body portion. of. the. safety light of Figures 1 and 4.. I

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional detailview taken through the intermediate and lower body portions. of the light.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken On line 1--1 of Figure Referrlngv to'thedrawings, and more particularlyto. Figure 4- which shows the. light in upright floating-position, H designates thev outer casing of said outer casing being generally cyl ndrical in shape and bein provided with a bottom closure p ug I2. As shown in Figure 6, pl g I? has a reduced threaded portion it which is threaded into the lower end of casing l i, a suitable layer of cement I4 being employed between the casing I I and plug I2 and extending over the threads there-between, to provide a completely moisture-tight and vapor-tight ioint between the casing and the plug. Secured to the bottom of plug I 2 in any suitable permanent manner, as by securing pins i5, is a plastic disc It on which instructions for the use of the light may be p inted.

The top end of casing II is formed with ex-' I ternal threads, shown at H, and threaded thereon is a ring nut or bezel I8 formed with an in wardly directed top flangle I9. Positioned on the top rim of casing I I is a deformable annular gas-.

ket of rubber or similar resilient material, and mounted on said gasket is the rim of a dome-like transparent lens 2|, the lens rim being formed with an outwardly extending annular flange 22 underlying the flange I9 of nut I8 and clamped thereby against the gasket 20. The bottom of the lens rim is further formed with an annular sealing rib 23 which is forced into the gasket 25 by the clampin pressure exerted-by nut i8 and which improves the seal between the lens and the gasket. The outer edge portions of nut I8 are annularly bevelled, as shown at 24 and 25, the lower bevel 24 acting to allow moisture to drain off the unit when it is mounted in its stowed inverted position, as will be presently described, thereby reducing the possibility of moisture entering the threads IT. A clearance space 26 is provided between the nut I8 and the outer surface of lens 2| which blocks the creeping of moisture upwardly into the nut when the light is stowed in its above-mentioned inverted position.

The casing I I, plug I2 and nut I8 are preferably fabricated of sturd corrosion-resistant material, such as thermo-setting plastic material, and these parts are preferably of the same material so that they will expand and contract in unison under variations pansion and contraction from occurring.

Encircling the casing I I and rigidly secured thereto below the center of gravity of the unit in its floating upright position illustrated in Figure 4 is a band 21' of corrosion-resistant metal, said metal band being formed with a loop 28 in Which is secured a ring 29. A lanyard 30 may be fastened to ring 29.

Designated at 3| is a cylindrical inner shell member telescopically positioned within casing I I. Shell member 3! is supported at its lower end on the rim of reduced plug portion I3 and abuts the gasket '20 at its upper end. Said shell member is formed of corrosion-resisting material, preferably of the same thermo-setting plastic mate rial employed for casing I'I. As shown in Figure 6, the internal diameter of shell member SI is such as to slidably receive a standard dry cell 32 in its lower portion. The intermediate body portion of shell member 3! is formed with a verti-" call elongated slot 33 of substantial width terminating in arcuate top and bottom portions 34 and 35. As shown in Figure 6, the outer binding post 36 of dry cell 32 is provided with a large washer 31 which overlaps the lowermost section of the arcuate bottom slot portion 'and supports the dry cell 32 against long downward movement. Seated in the plug I2 is an annular ballast block 38 in the center of which is fitted a rubber sleeve 39 having a top flange 40 which underlies the botin temperature conditions. thereby preventing leaks due to differential extom of the dry cell and acts as a cushioning support therefor.

Designated at M is an inverted U -shaped member of relatively thick rubber bar stock, or similar resilient bar material, which is secured within shell 3I by a rigid transverse bar member G2 disposed between the depending legs of the U-shaped member and formed with reduced end portions 43, 43 passing through said legs and the adjacent wall portions of the shell 3 I. The ends of the legs of the U-shaped member iii en-a'ge the top end of the dry cell 32 and act as cushioning abutments which prevent said dry cell from moving upwardly in the shell 3i. As shown in Figure l, the rigid bar member 42 is of substantial vertical height and acts as a spreader to maintain the legs of the resilient U-shaped member 4| in contact with the inside wall surface of the shell 3 I. Said U -shaped member 4| is of substantial thickness so that the legs thereof will resist substantial upward force exerted by the dry cell. Since the member M is held in its bowed configuration by the member 32 and the surface of shell 3i engaging its legs, the member ii is stressed so that its legs would move outwardly to restore member 4! to a straight bar-like configuration if all restraint on the member EI were removed. This pro-stressed condition of the member ii prevents its legs from buckling inwardly when a heavy upward force is applied to said legs b the dry cell 32.

Designated at 48 is a mercury switch having a reduced base portion 54 frictionally secured in an aperture provided in the horizontal top pori tion of the inverted U-shaped rubber spring QI.

The bulb portion of the switch is shown at 35 and the electrodes of the switch, shown at 3$, d6, project upwardly from the switch base, so that the mercury =57 covers said electrodes when the light is in its upright position shown in Figure 4. When the light is in its inverted position, shown in Figure 1, the mercury 47 is contained in the bulb portion 45 of the switch and the electrodes it, 46 are open-circuited.

Designatedat #39, :9 are inwardly offset vertically extending angle brackets secured at 5%, 5i! to the inside of the top end portion of shell member 3| at diametrically opposite locations on said top end portion. Secured to the top flanges of the angle brackets 49, 4-9 is a rigid disc 5!. preferably of white reflective plastic material,

formed with a central opening. Designated at 52 is a rubber grommet which is seated in said opening, and frictionally secured within said grommet is the lamp socket 53. Mounted in lamp socket 53 is the lamp As shown in Figure 5, the lens 2! is formed with an annular horizontal Fresnel portion 55 and the lamp 55 is positioned with its filament located substantially at the focal point of said Fresnel portion. This provides a very high ratio of beam candlepower of the unit in a horizontal direction to mean spherical candlepower of the lamp.

The lower inside surface portion of lens 2i is provided with an outwardly facing silvered coating 56 which extends upwardly to the imaginary conical surface defined by the filament of the lamp as a vertex and the annular bevel 25. Light passing through the lens between the top edge of coating 58 and the Fresnel portion 55 is therefore allowed to strike the surface of the water around the unit when. it is in its floating position, shown in Figure and a substantial portion of this light is reflected ofi the water surface in the general direction of the main beam concentration, that is, substantially horizontally,

sunface. subtended by bevel Z5: and the. horizontal "plane. through. the. lamp filament was employed and was: found to. provideia. substantial. reinforcement. of the ratio of the. horizontal beam candle- Epower of the unit to'the; meanxspherioal. candle power of the lamp when the. unitawas; floating in the water in the position of'Figm-e 4.

Theoutwardly facing silvered coatingifi being of substantial preaching vessel, so. that'the devicemay be. detcctediiby the crew of said" vessel even whenlamp i4: is extinguished.

The lamp. socket 53. is. internally wired in: a conventional manner; and extending downweirdly from said socket is. the cable sheathing member '51, of suitable. flexible, insulating material. which containsthe lamp socket lead. wires till, .59.. As; shown in Figure the; ends 'of'lead height, provides a reflective marker for picking up. a. light beam from-an aptachable nlasticoan 121.,

so that; the; capsule. com mences its drying action only after the cap 121: is removed. As will be subsequently explained, the

" can 11 is not removed until the safety device is wires. 58; and 5.9. are provided with. terminal eye 11:35:16.0 and .GI' which are connected "to respecranged coaxially' around inner conductor 6.9 and suitahly 'insuiatedtherefrom. The; cable 64 has an. outer covering of suitable. insulating material. The inner conductor 69 is connected at: one end to binding post- 62- and isv connected at: its

nether-"end to one. of the electrodes of the. mercury switch. 48. The. other electrode of switch 4821's connected; by an insulated wire *H to the washer -31; engaged. onbinding post 36 of the dry cell '32.

The. outer conductor [0; of cable 64. terminates. at

one end; in. a. lead wire 66: which is connected to binding'post 63. Outer conductor lilis connected .adiacent: the, lower end of cable 64', as. viewed. in

Figure 6. to aneye lug l2 secured on the. center binding post, 13 of the, dry cell 32:.. Respective wingv nuts 61: and 68: detachab-ly' secure the. lugs 0} and 61. on the: shank portions of the binding posts 62 and 63.

It will be seen from Figure 5 that access to the wing nuts. 61 and. 6,8. is. provided through the arcuate top section 34 of the slot 3.3 in shell 31. It will be further apparent that when wing nuts 61 and 68 are removed from their respective binding post shanks, the conductors 58' and 59 may be. detached iromthe binding posts 62' and 63 and the. entire assembly comprising-the lamp 54, socket: 53, and cable 51 may be removed{ from the device as a unit by pulling the socket. 53- free or the grommet. 52. and. pulling the cable-upward-1y through the grommet. Since thf" parts .may be. handled, as a. single uni th-lamliis preferably permanently.- soldered or otherwise "rigidly fastened. in the socket: 53- by any suitable means providing positive low-resistance contact of the lamp terminals with the socket terminals. Designated at 14 is a capsule containingsilica -gel or other suitable dehydrating material.

Capsule 14 is secured within shell ."H opposite slot 33 in any suitable manner, as by an annular rib .15. .formed thereon which is force-fitted intoaslot 16 formed in the Wall of'shell 3|- Capsule 14 isof conventional construction and has a; perforated end wall normally covered by a demadareadyior stowi-ng aboard ship.

Referring-n w" t F gur .1. to. 111': willhe seen that-the; saf m evice is. stowed abroad shimin inverted position- Designa d at. 18 vertical: Wall member of theship and. secured thereto by top and. bottom bolts- 1-9 19 is aver-ticali'bar; member 80... Secured to the lower portiorrof. vertical bar member a horizontal i id. r n brack t: 8.1. inwhichthe lensportion 2!; either light. is receivable. The; ring portion; of bracket BL. is formed with diametrically oppos d upwardly and; outwardly extendin g 3.2:. 82

which engage.- in, diametrically: opposedrecesses' Q3. formed. in the bezel ring; nut. l8. Secured to the, upper, portion. of. vertical bar member 80 is,- a horizontal resilient. generally u-shapedclamp mem er. 8:4- receiv the body p rtion oi. th lightbctwesn its resilient,- fingers. I

In. taking the light. apart. for inspectlonior replacement of parts; the casing I I may beretated while the light. is still, supported as shown in Figure 1,. the lugs 82, 82. holding the bezel nut; Hi against rotation. This. loosens. the bezel fromthe threads, l1, permitting, said bezel .nut tobe thereafter easily removed. The, light is.- oafi course lifted out oi itssupporting bracket as soon as. the bezel. nut Ill has been thus. loos,- ened.

When the bezel nut i8 has been, removed, the lens. 21. and gasket 2.0. are then. removed and the shell 3.1. is. slipped out of the casing. ll. The elongated slot. 33 allowsv the. interior of the shell 3| tube visuallyinspected and also allows access to the wing; nuts. 61. and 68, as above described. To remove the. dry cell 32 for replacement. the thumb. nuts on the binding posts. 13.- and 36. are removed. The removal of. the thumb nut. on binding, post3'd allows the large, washer 31 to be lifted. out. of, engagement with. the. arcuate end. section .35. ofslot. .33 and allows the dry cellv to be slippedout of; the end of shell3l.

The. parts. are. reassembledv in. a. reverse man ner.. After thering nut l8, has, been engaged on the threads. l.1, the lightis placed on. its. support mthe positionof. Figure 1- with the. lugs 82, engaged in the recesses 83. The casing. H is then rotated. with respect: to the ring nut. i8 to a tight position wherein the ring. nut exerts firm clampin pressure on. the flange 22 of: the lens; 2|.

Immediately hrior to. reassembling the; light for stowage. in its supportaboard ship,- the. seal;- ing: cap- 1-1 of the dehydrating capsule I4. is removed. a lowing the. drying action thereof. to commence.

In thes owed p it on shown in. Figure 11 the mercury 4.1 oi; theswitoh 4.8 will. be positioned the bulb. 4.5.1 of; the switch. out oi contact with the elec rodesdfii. .45... When ill-1S; desired. to. place thelisht m oeration. removedirom its upp rt; and thrown verb ard. a uming; the upr ght floating;oositionshownin.Fi ures. mercury 41. then flows into. the. base: portion. of the switch, bridging; the. electrodes 45.. 4.6 and causing. the lampv 5.4; to be. energized.

' While a specific embodiment of a marine safety light has been, disclosed in the foregoing 7 theinvention except as defined by the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member, a lamp carried by said sleeve member, said sleeve member being formed with an opening, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member, means secured to said dry cell engaging the edge of said opening and limiting axial movement of the dry cell in one direction, abutment means secured in the sleeve member and engaging the dry cell to limit axial movement of said cell in the opposite direction, a gravity-operated switch mounted on said abutment means, and circuit means, including said gravity-operated switch connecting said lamp to the dry cell.

2. In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member, a lamp carried by said sleeve member, said sleeve member being formed with an opening, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member, an outer binding post on said cell, outwardly projecting means secured to the outer binding post of said dry cell and engaging the edge of said opening to limit axial movement of the dry cell in one direction, an abutment member secured in the sleeve member and engaging the dry cell to limit axial movement thereof in the opposite direction, a gravity-operated switch carried in said sleeve member, and circuit means, including said switch, connecting said lamp to the dry cell.

3. In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member, a lamp carried by said sleeve member, said sleeve member being formed at its intermediate portion with an opening, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member, an outer binding post on said cell, an outwardly projecting washer secured 'to the outer binding post of said dry cell and engaging the edge of said opening to limit axial movement of the dry cell in one direction, a U- shaped abutment member secured transversely in the sleeve member with the ends of its leg elements engaging the top of the dry cell to limit axial movement of said cell in the opposite direction, a gravity-operated switch mounted on said abutment member, and circuit means,

including said switch, connecting said lamp to said other end of the sleeve member, a resilient bridging member secured transversely in said 'sleeve memberabove said dry cell and having depending legs engaging the top of the dry cell to limit axial movement of said dry cell away from said other end of the sleeve member, a gravityoperated switch mounted on said resilient bridg- :ing member, and circuit means, including said switch, connecting said lamp to the dry cell.

5. In a marine safety light of the characterdescribed, a sleeve member, a lamp carried by one end portionof said sleeve member, said sleeve member being formed at its intermediate portion with an elongated slot, a dry cell telescopically positioned in the other end of said sleeve member, an outer binding post on said cell, an outwardly projecting washer secured to the outer binding post of said cell and engaging the end of the slot to limit axial movement of the dry cell away from said slot, a resilient bridging member secured transversely in said sleeve member above said dry cell and having depending legs engaging the top of the dry cell to limit axial movement of the cell toward said slot, a mercury switch mounted on said resilient bridging memher, and circuit means, including said switch, connecting said lamp to the dry cell.

6.-In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member carrying at one end thereof a lamp, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member at its other end, a resilient bridging member secured transversely in said sleeve member and having depending legs engaging said dry cell, a gravity-operated switch mounted on said bridging member, and circuit means, including said switch, connecting said lamp to the dry cell.

'7. In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member, an abutment member secured transversely in said, sleeve member and having depending legs engaging said dry cell, a gravity-operated switch mounted on said abutment member, and circuit means connecting said switch to said dry cell.

8. In a marine safety light of the character described, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being formed with an opening, a dry cell telescopically positioned in said sleeve member, means secured to said dry cell engaging the edge of the opening and limiting axial movement of the dry cell in one direction, abutment means secured in the sleeve member and engaging the dry cell to limit axial movement of said cell in the opposite direction, a gravity-operated switch mounted on said abutment means, and circuit The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,457,565 Warrick June 5, 1923 1,655,548 Honegger et al Jan. 10, 1928 1,964,466 Helmholtz June 26, 1934 2,151,938 Ramsey et al Mar. 28, 1939 2,305,490 Perkins Dec. 15, 1942 2,346,695 Miller Apr. 18, 1944 2,369,971 Marr Feb. 20, 1945 2,377,161 Strange et al. May 29, 1945 2,404,681 Baack July 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 414,190 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1934 

